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This journal discusses photography in all its guises with an emphasis on the art of making photographs.
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “Fun with the B&H catalog”.
Posted in Cameras
You wrote:
> The thing no one needs: Page 129. The Zeiss Ikon rangefinder body for film at all of $1,617
Well, not so fast. Aren’t you forgetting your past (and the shutter noise this page make upon loading)? This is, in essence, a slightly cheapened (where it doesn’t matter), better film-loading Leica M body. Granted, the shutter IS noisier.
But film rangefinder cameras are still needed, wouldn’t you agree?
Christoph
Christoph –
No, I do not agree. Not remotely.
Film is Dead. The modern replacement for the rangefinder camera with film is a small point-and-shoot digital like the Leica DP, where you get a Leica lens, far less bulk – a throwback to the Barnack Leicas if you like – comparable image quality and negligible shutter lag (finally!). It is smaller, by the way, than any Barnack Leica ever was. And much, much quieter. Plus you don’t have to worry about exposure and focus – just get on with making pictures.
Take a look back at my columns on the EOS 5D and you will see that it was a replacement for my medium format gear, not for my Leica. The Panasaonic Lumix LX1 (or Leica DP as I think of it) is the replacement for my M2 and M3. Low light photography? Granted, the Lumix has a slowish lens; once Canon sensor qualty comes to cameras this small, you will be able to crank up the ISO to compensate without any fear of grain (just like you already can on the EOS 5D) and use your Noctilux for the expensive paperweight it deserves to become. Great in its time, certainly. But no longer needed. Meanwhile, the noise issue with the Leica DP is well handled by software like Noise Ninja.